The Netsweeper name triggered a vague memory in me that it was one of the filtering technologies used at Toronto Public Library (and, as far as I can tell, many other libraries and schools in Canada and the US).

Filtering technology is a classic “dual use” technology, which has reasonable applications in the management of network traffic, library policy and legal requirements in certain areas, and censorious applications in other areas. To my mind, the core question is the ethics of libraries doing business with companies who sell their dual-use products to aid censorship efforts overseas and in other areas.

Waiting on an Answer

I sent an inquiry via Toronto Public Library’s public contact form early on the morning of Thursday, September 22. Late that afternoon, I received acknowledgement and confirmation that staff from the Information Technology Department would respond directly to these questions:

Is Netsweeper currently being used by Toronto Public Library?

Was it used previously?

If use has been discontinued, when was use discontinued?

Who is the current provider/providers (if any) of filtering technology used by the library?

The library’s own Customer Feedback Procedure says a response will be provided within 10 business days, so I assume I will receive a response within that time and update this post accordingly.